Corruption case: Nuru, Bovis in court as employment probe takes a turn - San Francisco Chronicle

Disgraced San Francisco Public Works director Mohammed Nuru and restaurateur Nick Bovis stood stony faced alongside their respective attorneys Thursday during a brief court hearing about the status of their $2 million bonds.

The FBI arrested Nuru and Bovis last week on charges of fraud following a lengthy investigation involving undercover officers, confidential informants and wiretaps.

Nuru and Bovis, the owner of Lefty O’Doul’s, are accused of concocting several different corruption schemes, some of which were allegedly intended to steer city contracts to Bovis. Nuru has also been accused of accepting gifts from a billionaire Chinese developer in exchange for help with a development deal, lying to the FBI and receiving free and discounted building materials that he did not disclose.

The hearing was their first public appearance since the scandal came to light last week.

Both Nuru and Bovis have been released on unsecured bonds, which require defendants to agree to appear in court, but do not require an up-front payment. At Thursday’s hearing, attorneys for Nuru and Bovis worked to renegotiate the terms of their clients’ bonds with Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim.

On Thursday, lawyers for both men told Kim that they were close to finalizing paperwork to put up property as collateral for their bonds. Both men declined to comment after the hearing. Both are due back in court next Thursday to finalize the terms of their bonds.

While the criminal charges against Nuru go through the courts, he’s awaiting the outcome of a city investigation. Nuru was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest last week while an investigation looks at whether to fire him. Nuru’s boss, City Administrator Naomi Kelly, has recused herself from the decision on whether Nuru would receive severance pay, should he be fired, but she is still responsible for the ultimate decision about his termination. The investigation into his fate with the city is expected to wrap up in the next few days.

By not resigning, Nuru gets to keep collecting his salary, which was more than $273,000 last year.

Kelly informed the FBI that Nuru had revealed to her that Public Works was under investigation. Nuru later lied to the FBI about speaking to Kelly, prompting his arrest last week.

The San Francisco employees’ retirement board will determine whether Nuru will keep his $91,000 pension.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com

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Corruption case: Nuru, Bovis in court as employment probe takes a turn - San Francisco Chronicle
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